Unless you live under a rock, you have seen the black lipstick trends that started at YSL last season. We've seen a lot of crazy trends come across our desk but this one really threw us for a loop. How does one pull of black lipstick in reality?Finally the light bulb flickered on. When fused with red, black lipstick becomes an ultra flattering crimson color. Ah ha!

Here are a few tips on how to pull it off and some of our favorite crimson crayons from Kat von D to YSL.

• Pair with minimal makeup for a very glamorous, old Hollywood look. Bonus! You don't need much else than to prep skin and throw on a coat of mascara.

• Step into the dark side and pair it with coal rimmed eyes for a more Gothic interpretation of the look.

• For a very realistic take on the trend, take a sheer black and blend it with a red lipstick right on your lips or in a palette mixer and apply.